Deputy Social Minister Invites GSN to Collaborate in Strengthening Social Empowerment Programmes
The Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos) has invited the National Solidarity Movement (GSN) to collaborate in strengthening social empowerment programmes to alleviate poverty. This synergy is deemed essential to support the directives of President Prabowo Subianto.
The invitation was conveyed by Deputy Minister of Social Affairs (Wamensos) Agus Jabo Priyono during a meeting with GSN at the Kemensos office in Central Jakarta on Monday (27/4).
“Kemensos cannot do it alone; let’s collaborate with GSN and PPUMI to continue what has been instructed by the President,” said Agus Jabo in a written statement on Monday (27/4/2026).
He explained that Kemensos is currently bolstering social empowerment programmes, one of which is the Kemensos Empowered Village, with a prototype being developed in Central Java. This programme partners with philanthropy to empower village women in producing handicrafts from eceng gondok.
Products such as waste bins and tissue boxes are then marketed abroad, providing additional income for the community. Agus Jabo stated that the programme also aims to change the mindset of the community to reduce reliance on social assistance.
“Let us collaborate to empower poor communities to become independent,” he clarified.
“We are asked to collaborate. We do not want, under President Prabowo’s leadership, for the people to still be poor. Let us rise together,” he added.
Furthermore, Agus Jabo welcomed GSN’s collaboration plans, including opportunities for Kemensos’ contributions to future events.
“Just let us know the format of the event and how Kemensos can contribute, but if I may suggest, we request a slot for an event such as a choir from the People’s School or similar,” said Agus Jabo.
In agreement, GSN Chairman Retired Lieutenant General Teguh Arief expressed his desire to invite Kemensos to cooperate in events commemorating National Education Day and National Awakening Day, planned for Sentul, Bogor, West Java, in May 2026, with the theme ‘Awakening for Indonesia to Realise the Golden Generation Towards Golden Indonesia 2045’.
“We are inviting the Ministry of Social Affairs because it also has an education sector, namely the People’s School,” said Arief.
He revealed that the event concept is still being refined and will be coordinated with Hashim Djojohadikusumo and President Prabowo as Chairman of the GSN Advisory Board. One of the planned agendas is an UMKM exhibition and the provision of free glasses.
“Later, in between those, there will be assistance from the president that has been conveyed by the president to us, which is smart glasses assistance for the elderly,” he concluded.